By LAURA WAKELY
ACCESS to Sydenham Rd in Delahey could be restricted after a meeting this week.
Brimbank City Council will meet with police, Metro and Broadcast Australia on Thursday to discuss the long-term plan for Sydenham Rd, which was closed to traffic at Taylors Rd for the construction of a grade separation in 2007.
The dead-end street has become a hotspot for hoons, drug using and dealing and rubbish dumping.
Keilor Downs Senior Sergeant Grant Kelly said police were aware of the ongoing issues on Sydenham Rd.
He said there was a “long-term plan” to restrict access to the road, but that all stakeholders needed to be onboard.
Resident Doug Nicholson told Star earlier this year that he had been lobbying council to re-open the road (It’s a dump, Keilor Star, 24 January).
Last month he found a car that had been blown up underneath the rail underpass on the road, and renewed calls for council to install cameras at the site.
But Sen Sgt Kelly said cameras would be a large cost to council and suggested restricting access to the road at both ends could be a cheaper and more effective alternative.
VicRoads are seeking to reconnect Sydenham Rd through a parcel of land at 250 Taylors Rd, which is owned by Broadcast Australia.
But the project can’t progress because Broadcast Australia is seeking approval from state and federal governments to redevelop the site.
A spokesperson told Star that Broadcast Australia is “continuing to progress” its plans for the land but couldn’t supply a timeframe.
